Disposable swab and holder



United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 401-201 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable swab and holder, the swab comprising a at, exible member having a pair of spaced openings in at least one side edge thereof, and a narrow portion adjacent one end of the swab, with slot means therein, to prevent the swab from coming off a holder upon which it is disposed, the holder comprising a pair of U-shaped members whose sides form outer tines with the inner sides of the U-shaped members, being disposed adjacent the lower end of a handle which is provided with a section forming another U-shaped member with the handle and having a reversed bend on the portion of the U-shaped member disposed away from the lower end of the handle to retain the swab thereon. The swab may be disposed on the tines and the handle by placing it n the handle tines and thereafter folding the swab back over the central U-shaped section formed on the lower end of the handle. Preferably, the swab has a thin upper layer and a corrugated lower layer for receiving a detergent to be dispensed through tiny apertures in the corrugations while cleaning. After a limited period of use, the upper layer will dissolve 0r disintegrate, in water, and the swab may be disposed of by ilushing.

The present invention relates generally to a disposable cleaning swab and holder therefor, and more particularly to an improved device over that described in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 690,923, led Dec. 15, 1965, and entitled, Disposable Swab and Holder, now Pat. 3,495,918 issued Feb. 17, 1970.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved swab and holder device adapted to clean toilet bowls and other surfaces, and to clean and wax floors and the like, said swab being in the form of an elongated, rectangular member with a narrow portion so that the swab can be folded over upon itself and can be retained by the structure of the holder on which it is disposed.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved cleaning swab and holder which may be quickly and easily assembled and as easily disposed of by flushing down a toilet and the like after it has served its purpose.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a swab that is elongated so as to go around the tines on a swab holder and lock underneath an arm on the holder to prevent the swab from becoming inadvertently disassembled from the holder.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a holder or handle for a swab which is designed to be able to reach all of the cleaning points in a toilet bowl.

Various other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the holder to which a swab of the present invention is atlixed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the swab embodied in the present invention;

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FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the holder or handle embodied in the present invention, illustrating the swab in dotted lines when it is properly positioned upon the holder;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the holder and the swab in a dotted line fashion, as seen from the side thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the handle with the swab properly positioned thereon for use as a swab and holder.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a disposable swab and holder device which comprises a holder or handle 12 and a swab 14.

The handle comprises a vertically inclined rod 16 with its lower end being provided with a central U-shaped member 18 formed by the lower end of the rod 16, and a horizontal section 20 and a vertically inclined section 22. The upper end of the vertically inclined section 22 is provided with a reverse bend or section 24 facing inwardly toward the lower end of the rod 16.

The horizontal section 20 of the central U-shaped member 18 is secured by any suitable means to the inner sides or legs 26 of two identical horizontally disposed U-shaped members 28.

It will be noted that the side by side U-shaped members 28 have their legs extending in a direction opposite to the reverse bend or section 24 in the Ueshaped member 18. These U-shaped members 28 are also substantially larger than the U-shaped member 18 forming the central section of the holder.

Referring to FIG. 2, the swab 14, which is provided with a thin upper layer and a corrugated lower layer for receiving detergent to be dispensed through tiny holes in the corrugations while cleaning, and as more fully described in my above-mentioned application, is substantially rectangular in configuration and is provided with a narrow portion 30 adjacent one end thereof, or is provided with a rectangular cutaway portion 32 that provides the narrow portion 30 adjacent one end of the swab. The larger end 34 of the swab is provided with two spaced slots or openings 36 therein adjacent its upper side for receiving the outer legs 38 of the U-shaped members 28, as best seen in FIG. 5. The swab is disposed over or on the handle or holder 12 by inserting the legs 38 through the slots 36 and pushing the swab onto these legs or tines 38. Thereafter, the portion of the swab adjacent the narrow end 30 is folded over the top of the members 28 and the portion 30 is disposed beneath or within the reverse bend or section 24, and extends through the U-shaped member 18, as best seen in FIG. 5.

The swab 14 is provided with a slotted portion 40 adjacent the narrow portion 30 so that when the swab is folded back upon itself with the portion 30 disposed within the central'U-shaped member 18, the slot 40 encompasses the inclined rod section 22, and thus the reverse bend section 24 prevents the swab from inadvertendly becoming disassembled from the holder after it is disposed thereon.

After the swab and the holder are assembled in the manner hereinbefore described, the lower corrugated surface of the swab may be applied to the surface of a toilet bowl with a rubbing action for cleansing thereof. After a short time, approximately three minutes, the upper ply will separate from the lower ply and begin to disintegrate, or dissolve, in the water within the toilet bowl, and the prongs or tines are therefore freed from the swab and the swab can be flushed down the toilet, as more fully discussed in the above-mentioned patent application.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a novel holder and a novel swab which may be readily secured to the holder and may be folded back upon itself so `that the swab will not inadvertently become disengaged from the holder, once it is disposed thereon, and which requires no external or additional clamping means or fasteners for maintaining the swab on the holder.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made n the form, location and relative arrangement of several parts without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, and it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A swab comprising a relatively thin at member of flexible material, and a pair of spaced openings in one edge of said member for loose reception of a pair of spaced tines on a holder, said member having a narrow portion formed by a cutaway section to provide means to secure the member on a holder when it is folded back upon itself.

2. The swab of claim 1 wherein said narrow portion is provided with a slot in its narrow portion, opposite the one edge in which said spaced openings are disposed to engage a portion of a holder on which it is disposed.

3. The swab of claim 2 wherein said member includes an upper layer and a corrugated apertured lower layer for holding detergent material.

4. A disposable swab and holder comprising a at ilexible swab member of substantially rectangular configuration with a larger portion and a cutaway section forming a narrow portion and the holder comprising an inclined vertical rod with its lower end forming a central U-shaped member, and with two at U-shaped members secured to said central member, a reverse bend on said central member, spaced opening means in the larger portion for receiving the tines of said at U-shaped members, slot means in said narrow portion for engaging said central member adjacent said reverse bend, said narrow portion being folded back upon itself and disposed between the tines of said central U-shaped member.

5 A holder for use with a disposable swab and the like comprising a vertically inclined rod having a U-shaped member on its lower end forming a central member with a reverse bend on its free end, a pair of flat U-shaped members with their inner tines disposed in side by side relationship and secured to the central bight of said central U-shaped member, whereby a swab can be disposed onto the tines of said at members and folded back through said central member.

6. The holder of claim 5 wherein said at members have tines extending in a direction opposite to said reverse bend.

7. The holder of claim 6 wherein said U-shaped members are all made of rod material and said reverse bend extends in a horizontal direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,642 2/1940 Carvalho 401--201 2,531,304 11/ 1950 Seewald 401-201 3,383,158 5/ 1968 Leland 401-201 3,488,126 1/1970 Avallone 401-201 3,495,918 2/1970 Leland 401-201 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 15-231 

